Conference Day Two: Wednesday, 24 August 2017

8:45 AM - 9:30 AMMorning Tea

9:30 AM - 9:45 AMOpening remarks from the chair

This session explores the application of technology and deploying renewables to maximize network stability. It will explore new development in energy storage and automation of controls and their potential to improve network stability and integrate renewables. It aims to assess the pros and cons and identify the best fit for the differing demands of different networks.

10:25 AM - 11:05 AMOptimising the Renewable energy Mix in Queensland by Incorporating Wind and Solar to Meet the Baseload

This session will explore a world first project being lead by WindLabs in far north Queensland to introduce wind to the demand on solar projects. It leverages the declining marginal cost of both wind to depress day time demand.

Assessing the impact of the lowering marginal cost of renewables on energy stability

Developing strategies to strike a balance between wind and solar

Leveraging the increasing competitiveness of renewables on energy supply and demand

11:05 AM - 11:35 AMMorning Tea and Networking

Australia is unusual in that it has created a real time market for the provision of all of its frequency control.

This is in contrast to other electrical power systems where frequency control is managed through fixed services with a level of mandated requirements. This session argues that this needs to be revised to ensure the power system is able to withstand major events.

Assessing the market structure and its influence on the deterioration in the frequency control of the power system

Delivering a system that doesn’t sacrifice control systems

Investigating the market frameworks for frequency control

Kate Summers

This session will focus on building regional self sufficiency by isolating pockets on the grid to form micro girds. This strategy works to prevent blackouts caused by extreme situations by optimising energy storage and adding hydro and solar power to the mix.

Pumped storage hydropower is resurging in popularity across the globe as governments and utilities seek to ensure grid stability in markets with increasing penetration of renewables. With energy reliability a hot topic in Australia, eyes are now turning to pumped storage hydropower.

What is the importance of pump storage for peaking power, balancing the fluctuations in renewables, and providing stability to the grid?

What are the barriers to developing more Australian pumped storage hydropower projects? What has been holding it back?

3:15 PM - 3:45 PMAfternoon Tea

The Federal government recently approved a AUD 450,000 grant to EnergyAustralia to develop a pumped hydro energy storage project in South Australia. EnergyAustralia’s proposed $200 million 100 megawatts project, located in the Spencer Gulf in South Australia, will be Australia’s first pumped hydro project using seawater. This session explore the economics of pumped hydro, challenges and scalability.

Going off -the-grid isn’t a new idea. Energy companies have been experimenting with the idea of going off the grid in remote areas for a while to minimize the risk of disruption in bad weather and bush fires. And also in a bid to control costs. With developments in energy storage and renewables. As well as the rise of the conscientious end user, there is a rising trend towards going off the grid – reducing energy costs and giving users more control on their energy consumption. This session will explore the impact on the energy markets, competitiveness, cost per unit from the grid perspective. It will investigate how policy and regulations need to evolve to address these changes and focus on creating a roadmap.

The effect of users, both large energy users and homes moving of the grid by embracing independent generation and renewables

The impact on cost per unit

Will the grid still be relevant and how does it need to evolve

Peer-to-peer and Peer-to-grid

Collaborating with users to optimize energy security

Professor Gerard Ledwich

Chair in Power Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Science and EngineeringQueensland University of Technology